Non-AIP Ingredients in Food, Body Products and Household Items

When you saw the title of this post, you might have thought, “Well that sure covers a lot of ground.” Yes, it does! Everyone on the Autoimmune Protocol knows to avoid dietary gluten. Hopefully you also know to check supplements and medications for hidden gluten and other ingredients that might cause trouble. For an AIP newbie, changing your diet and supplements, and getting the kitchen dialed in may feel like a mountain of work (totally worth it!), but it’s wise to cover some other bases to ensure you don’t end up ingesting gluten and other AIP no-nos from unsuspected sources such as household products, body care products, and some packaged foods.

In this post we’ll go over the what and where of sleuthing out those hidden ingredients. The baseline is: know your ingredients, be a devoted label-reader, and don’t trust anything you aren’t familiar with or that isn’t labeled with clarity.

Gluten hidden in body care products

Many body care and household products contain ingredients sourced from gluten, corn or soy, yet their labels don’t always say so. You might think, “Why would something I put on the outside of my body or use in the household be a risk?” Simply stated, you might get it in your mouth. And, the jury is still out, but some sources posit that you can absorb it via your skin as well.

Ingestion scenarios: you put lotion on, then eat a snack; you are washing your hair and some suds from that lovely volume-increasing oat-based shampoo run into your mouth; you apply your mascara and lick your finger to wipe a smear off; you apply sunscreen while sweating on the beach, wipe your cheek, and eat your lunch; you toss your dog a few of her favorite treats and then touch a food item of your own.

You’ve just ingested gluten, corn, or soy, and may pay the symptomatic price for days or even weeks.

In my opinion, instead of having to be obsessive about not transferring to your mouth what you put on your skin or use in your house, it’s simpler to just weed out the products that might put you at risk. It might mean an overhaul of the entire household’s body- and house-care products, but it’s worth it in the long run. Take a close look at what’s in your shampoo or laundry detergent…make no assumptions! Read all labels, and if there is anything you’re not sure about, research it before using it.

Common body care items that may contain gluten, soy or corn

Lip stick and lip balm

Sunscreen — commonly contains Vitamin E (see below)

Vitamin E — commonly based on wheat germ oil; there are gluten-free options

Cosmetics of all kinds — many companies don’t label completely, and it might mean a call to the company to verify ingredients. Also, remember that while most kids don’t use makeup, they may play with yours, so make sure it’s gluten-free for their sake.

Common household items reported to contain gluten

Children’s stickers — choose those labeled gluten-free

Price tag stickers — cut them off fruits and veggies

Stamps and the glue on envelopes — historically gluten-based, now commonly based on corn. Use a small sponge to apply a bit of water to wet the glue. Wash your hands afterward!

Play-doh — commonly made from wheat, you can make your own AIP-friendly version. Really now, what kid does not try to eat Play-doh?

Pet food and treats — you may not be tasting your dog’s goodies, but is your child trying them? Many kids do!

Laundry detergent

Cleaning products

Gluten hidden in packaged and prepared foods

On dietary protocols such as AIP, GAPS and low-FODMAP, we try to make the bulk of our food. Ideally we have enough time, resources and energy to batch cook once or twice a week so we have ready-made food for the majority of our meals, and have a few meals stashed in the freezer to use in a pinch.

Sadly, this perfect scenario goes wrong more often than we’d like: your kid comes down sick and you can’t make it to the grocery for this week’s shopping trip; work throws you an unexpected deadline and you’re working till midnight on batch cook day; or, you have a flare that knocks you on your butt and you have barely enough energy to brush your teeth, much less rock a 3-hour batch cook session.

Ideally we have some extra meals ready to pull from the freezer, but if you’re like me, sometimes you use your stash with the intention of replacing it the next day, then two days later you’re in a pinch because something came up and the batch cook didn’t happen. And…you find yourself eating something packaged because you have to eat NOW or collapse. I know I’m not the only one!

Have you ever heard the saying that on the AIP, all you need to do is shop the outside aisles at the grocery? Bulk foods, meats, fish, offal, veggies — it’s all there. Maybe a swing into the condiment aisle for AIP-friendly oil, and you’re headed for the checkout lane. The majority of packaged foods are a danger zone on the AIP. They contain too many non-AIP ingredients and frequently have mislabeled or mysteriously-labeled ingredients that leave us in a symptomatic pit of despair. Ever wonder what “spices” might mean? How about “natural flavorings”? Chances are, they mean, “I’m sourced from wheat, soy, or corn, suckers!” Avoid.

If you have to use packaged foods in a pinch, be smart about reading labels and knowing what to avoid. My personal policy is if I don’t know what it means, haven’t heard of it, or it says something vague like “spices” or “flavors,” it goes back on the shelf. More than once I’ve dined on sardines canned in water, with some olive oil, salt and coconut aminos on top, but hey, life could be worse!

Common ingredients that may contain gluten, soy or corn

Below is a list of ingredients to keep an eye out for at the grocery store. While some of these items may be familiar to you as things to avoid, others may come as a surprise. Many common food items can be sourced from non-AIP ingredients that cause us problems. The items seen in quotation marks below are sometimes seen on labels just as they are here; one might wonder what they contain!

Artificial color and flavorings

Caramel color/flavoring

“Coloring”

Stabilizers

Baking powder — not all brands are gluten-free, and they may not be labeled clearly. Baking powder is made of baking soda, cream of tartar and a moisture absorption agent which can be cornstarch, potato starch, or wheat starch. The Paleo Mom has information on how to make your own.

Citric acid — can be fermented from wheat, corn, molasses or beets. Check that bottle of Vitamin C in your cabinet, too — if it doesn’t say gluten-free, it’s sourced from corn!

Dextrin

Maltodextrin

Diglycerides

Emulsifiers

Enzymes

Fat replacers

Food starch

Modified food starch

Gelatinized and pregelatinized starch

Glucose syrup

Glycerides

“Natural juices”

“Natural flavor”

“Spices”

MSG

Malt

Vegetable protein — commonly soy, sometimes wheat

TVP = Texturized Vegetable Protein

HPP = Hydrolyzed Plant Protein

HVP = Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein

Other things to look out for:

Spices: some spice companies use glutenous fillers; use only pure, high-quality herbs and spices with no fillers.

Communion wafers: some churches will allow you to bring your own gluten-free variety.

Label changes: always have an eye out for labeling changes! If a trusty old product suddenly has a redesigned label, or now has “New” or “Improved” on it, check the ingredients to make sure nothing has changed.

Bulk food department: this one I discovered by accident one day at a local Whole Foods…the bulk department guy was doing his cleanup, and I watched as he grabbed the feather duster (commonly used to keep the tops of the bins clear of food particles), and started dusting the entire row of bins beginning with…yes…the wheat flours. All the way down the line, he dusted dutifully, contaminating every bin with gluten. I was crushed. And ticked off. We all know bulk departments have their inherent risks with cross-contamination, but I was pretty disappointed at the blatant disregard. However, I’ve worked in grocery stores and will tell you it can be a common occurrence. Depending on your food sensitivities and where you shop, it might be worth looking into how your local bulk department does its cleanup — especially if you have unexplained food reaction symptoms and you shop bulk.

Restaurant food: while the topic of eating AIP at restaurants merits its own post, I’ll mention a few key points here:

Cross-contamination is common on kitchen surfaces in restaurants

Sometimes veggies are par-boiled in the pasta water

Restaurants tend to prepare all deep-fried foods in the same oil, so cross-contamination is likely

If you choose to eat at a restaurant, interview the chef about kitchen cross-contamination. If that chef doesn’t have time for you, take care of yourself by walking out the door

The information above may seem overwhelming at first, but given some time, it becomes natural to read labels, learn ingredients, and trust your judgment. Some people print out a list of the sinister ingredients to look out for, to keep in their wallet.

You’ll develop a list of go-to foods that you can gravitate toward when you find yourself in a pinch. My in-a-pinch foods are: my favorite brand of sardines (I keep a tin stashed in my car); the roaster chicken at my local Whole Foods; and certain nuts that I’ve reintroduced successfully. You may have noticed all those options are high-protein and low-sugar; the last thing you want to do in a pinch is binge on sugars or carbs and set your blood glucose on a rollercoaster.

Finally, make the effort to create a home that is free of hazardous ingredients by dialing in your body care products, household cleaners, pet foods, and anything else that might contain non-AIP ingredients. Once you get the household free of questionable items, you’ll be able to rest easy knowing you’re in your own safe nest.

Susan Vennerholm is the blogger behind Backcountry Paleo, where she shares AIP-specific recipes and autoimmune-friendly tips for backcountry enthusiasts. She also geeks out on the medical side of autoimmunity, and loves to write about it.
Susan wholeheartedly believes that self-education and networking in the AI community are two of our strongest tools in living successfully with autoimmunity. As a way to pay forward the support she received during her recovery, she blogs so that others will have more resources for their healing journey.
A certified yoga teacher, code wrangler, and freelance writer, Susan loves climbing mountains, watching Orca whales, trail running, volunteering for dog rescue, and a good fantasy novel. You can connect with her on Facebook and Pinterest.

Wendy – There are many products out there that would be AIP-friendly. and it would be difficult for me to recommend one or another because everyone has individual sensitivities and needs. For example, one product that is gluten-free (which we both require) might be a good choice for you, but a bad choice for me, because it contains rosemary and calendula, to which I am sensitive. I encourage you to get to know your ingredients and make it a habit to read labels, so that you are empowered to make the best choices for yourself.

Are your products free of gluten, corn, soy and nuts? Why am I having an allergic reaction? In general, Dr. Bronner’s products are gluten-free, and they do not contain any common allergens such as soy or nuts. However, there are a few exceptions: our Shaving Gels, Lotions and Hair Crèmes contain xanthan gum derived from non-GMO corn, and our Castile Liquid Soaps, Castile Bar Soaps, Pump Soaps, and Shaving Gels contain citric acid derived from non-GMO corn. If you are having an allergic reaction, then it is possible that you are sensitive to one of the essential oils that are in our products, such as peppermint oil or lavender oil. If you have sensitive skin, then we recommend using our Unscented Baby-Mild varieties, which contain no essential oils.

For envelopes, you can purchase an Envelope Moistener called Dab-N-Seal that is available on Amazon for $3.28 with free shipping. Remember to store upside down so the dabber doesn’t dry out. If it does dry out, just run under warm to hot water to release the moisture. No more licking envelope gluten.

Carolyn, the info on Dr. Bronner’s soaps can be found by clicking on the link listed beside the mention of Dr. Bronner’s soaps in the above article.

“Are your products free of gluten, corn, soy and nuts? Why am I having an allergic reaction? In general, Dr. Bronner’s products are gluten-free, and they do not contain any common allergens such as soy or nuts. However, there are a few exceptions: our Shaving Gels, Lotions and Hair Crèmes contain xanthan gum derived from non-GMO corn, and our Castile Liquid Soaps, Castile Bar Soaps, Pump Soaps, and Shaving Gels contain citric acid derived from non-GMO corn. If you are having an allergic reaction, then it is possible that you are sensitive to one of the essential oils that are in our products, such as peppermint oil or lavender oil. If you have sensitive skin, then we recommend using our Unscented Baby-Mild varieties, which contain no essential oils.”

Angela; Sorry, but I don’t use it myself, so no products come to mind. However, what does come to mind is oil pulling with coconut oil. Coconut oil is a good anti-bacterial, and given that gingivitis can be based on bacteria, it might work. If you’re not familiar with oil pulling, just google it – great resources are to be had online!

I’ve got most of this down already. My dog eats grain free food, i use mineral makeup the one or two times a year i wear makeup, i use a chemical and gluten free shampoo and conditioner (no corn or soy either, its all coconut and olive based with essential oils) i make my own toothpaste, deodorant, and lip balms (though i recently found an awesome lip balm with beef tallow as the first ingredient!) and i use very natural laundry and dish soaps. I also compulsively read labels on EVERYTHING. And i stopped getting food from bulk bins unless they are those ones with the handle and they pour out. The problem is…i have chickens in my back yard for eggs. Ive been able to reintroduce eggs without issue, but only from pastured corn and soy free chickens. Now, it is impossible to have 100% pastured chickens. You HAVE to supplement their feed. They get all the grass and bugs they can eat, but they need more than that. I feed my hens Scratch and Peck, which is soy and corn free, local and non gmo. But it DOES contain wheat. It is wheat and pea based. I keep the bag in my garage and have a scoop in the bag. I go out every morning and give the girls a scoop of grain, then go wash my hands. I dont see any other way around this.

Vian – I’m not sure if the issue here is that you can’t eat the meat from the chickens because they eat wheat (which would seem strange because you can eat the eggs), or the handling of the feed. If it’s the handling, and it was me, I’d see about finding a mix or making my own with no wheat, or if I kept the same feed, be sure to wash my hands well in the bathroom sink afterward, not the kitchen sink, to at least minimize exposure risk. It would still be a risk, for sure. I’d be curious to hear how some other readers have gotten around this hurdle.

I make my own soap using both AIP approved oils and vegetable oils. Will using them in soap as bad as using them for cooking? I really hope they are not bad since using only AIP oils will make me spend way more money! Also, we have a very hard water so I like adding castor oil in soap. Oh, the same for lip balm to add some shine to it!

So I’ve been thinking about taking a Vitamin C supplement to try to combat a lingering viral infection. But I don’t want to risk taking one that isn’t AIP. Can you recommend any types or brands, or is finding something that just says “gluten free” safe enough?

Hey Gina! With vitamin C you want to be cautious of corn-derived products. I would look for those that say “gluten free” and “corn free” on the label, and look at the ingredients carefully for other non-AIP fillers (like rice flour). Hope it helps!

Meet Mickey + Angie

With five autoimmune diseases between them, Mickey and Angie found their path to better health with the Autoimmune Protocol. Now it’s their mission to share that approach with nourishing recipes, practical resources, and community connections.LEARN MORE>

Next group starts Sep 3rd!

Our Print Books

Check out our Podcast!

Affiliates

DISCLAIMER

The information included on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.

AMAZON AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

Autoimmune Paleo is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising feed by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Over 150,000 people have signed up for our newsletter to receive exclusive updates. Are you in?

Sign up for our newsletter and you’ll get our AIP Quick Start Series. We’ll send you our favorite food lists, meal plans, instructional videos, and other guides (all for free!) to help you get started on your journey. Plus, you’ll never miss an update! Get the AIP Quick Start Series now!

We value your privacy and would never spam you.

Stay connected with the AIP community!

Sign up for our newsletter and you’ll get our AIP Quick Start Series. We’ll send you our favorite food lists, meal plans, instructional videos, and other guides (all for free!) to help you get started on your journey. Plus, you’ll never miss an update! Get the AIP Quick Start Series now!